Origin
Longmont, CO
Late night in Longmont on Sunday
Local time
1:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Longmont, CO to Denver, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longmont, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Longmont to Denver is 36.6 miles and takes about 49 minutes via North Valley Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two locations within the Mountain West region, specifically within Colorado. The profile suggests a route with frequent turns, indicating it's more of a local transit feel rather than a high-speed highway journey. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is best suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Valley Highway | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 11.9 mi | 11m |
| Highway 119 | 3 mi | 3m |
| 3rd Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East Ken Pratt Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Broadway | 1 mi | 3m |
| Park Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West I 25 Frontage Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Valley Highway
— 14.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longmont, CO and Denver, CO.
1
Start on this road
63 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
5th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Collyer Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Collyer Street
4
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Avenue
5
Turn left onto CO 119
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ken Pratt Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CO 119
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 119
7
Take the exit onto West I 25 Frontage Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West I 25 Frontage Road
Toward I 25 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 25
12 mi
·
11 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 25
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Valley Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
15
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue West
16
Continue on West 22nd Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 22nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 14th Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left
358 ft
·
27 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Longmont, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 36.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
West I 25 Frontage Road
Take the exit onto West I 25 Frontage Road toward I 25 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 25 South
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
33.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213
Toward 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
9
33.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Park Avenue, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Park Avenue, Downtown
7
36.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.51 one way
$11.03 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $5.84 | $11.68 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Denver, CO
Late night in Denver on Sunday
Local time
1:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
33 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a route that's less about open highway and more about navigating local roads, as indicated by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. While there's a 10% highway share, the majority of your 36.6 miles will likely involve more frequent turns and potentially slower speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.2 miles on North Valley Highway. This suggests a drive where you'll be more engaged with steering and potentially adjusting your speed as you transition between different road types and local traffic.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.2 mi on North Valley Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in near West I 25 Frontage Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles (West I 25 Frontage Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Longmont, CO to Denver, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
33.5 mi in
|
~41m
About the Cities
Arriving in Denver, CO
Full guide →Denver is the capital of the western U.S. state of Colorado and the dominant city of the Rocky Mountain Region. Founded in 1858 as the placer gold mining camp known as the Cherry Creek Diggings, the "Mile-High City" is today the most populous city within a 560-mile (900 km) radius and the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor of more than five million residents. Denver embraces its cowboy and mining past but also looks toward the future with a vibrant arts and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, and distinct neighborhoods each offering a unique experience. You'll find everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer including a spectacular view of and easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which arise only 12 miles (19 km) west of the Colorado State Capitol.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.2 miles on North Valley Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Denver, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles (West I 25 Frontage Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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